Tile-grading machine.



W. K. AGHERT.

TILE GRKDINQMAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1911.

Patented July 1 L T B n m T. E B H S 4.

r W. K. AOHERT. TILE GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1911.

Patented July 1, 1913 4 sHnBTs-sKEET 2.

W. K. AGHERT.

TILE GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mum NOV. 20, 1911;

Patented July I, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

vii-n1 H" Enlmh? W. K. AGHERT.

TILE GRADING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED H0120, 1911;

Patented July 1,' 1913.

4 SHEETSr-SEEET 4.

(1 Nor/M34 WILLIAM K; holiest, on

To (lilac/m, 2'5 may concern: l -Be known-that I; W'iLLiAM K. Aoiinn'r,

.. erns earn ASSIGNOIR, TO THE AUTOMATIC TILE OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

nonwoon, 01110, or CINCINNATI,

, Mao-inns COMPANY,

' TILE-GRADING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Ytatented July 1 t9t3. Application filed November 20, 1911.

Serial No. 661,205.

The conveyor is moved intermittently, as will hereinatter he more fully described, so that each tile carried by it traverses the mea' citizen of the United States of America, v

chine In short steps, which are of such and residentof Norwood. countyof Hamih' feet, it it is Warped or distorted an objec- 11 are adapted to slide along the Way 12, as

tionahle amount. I

5:ton,;andStateofOhio, have invented cerlength that each tile stops in its passage tain new, and useful improvements in Tile t-hroi'igl'i the .machine while -it is being Grading lvlachines, at which the fOllOWlllfi graded, and also while it is being tested by is a specification. Q the warp indicating apparatus. After the An object of this invention is to produce tile have passed the warpindicating apps- 0 a-niachine' for grading tile, or similar artiratus, they are conveyed to the delivery end icles, iI'hflCCOZ'fiRDCG with their size, and for of the macl'ii'rie, where they niay be received indicating imperfect tile which are warped y an operator, or may be delivered by the or otherwise distorted. machine into a suitable receptacle.

This and other objects I attain by means The conveyer is preferably a chain co of apparatus embodying" the features herein veyer, and, as illustrated, consists of two described, and illustrated in the drawings chains 1l-10, which are secured together accompanying! and forming a part of this by means of convcyer bars 11, adapted to application 7 contact with the tile and to move them along in the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view a way12, Figs. 9 and 1 which is formed in of a machine embodying my. invention. the frame portion 13 Fig. '5 of the ma- Fig'. :2 is av longitudinal section along the chine, and extends longitudinally of the inaline 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse chine from the receiving to the delivery section along the line 3--3 of F 1&1. Fig. end. Each chain 10 extends over sprocket 4 is "anend elevation of the tile-receiving wheels 14 and 15 and is held taut byend of the machine Fig. 5 is a side elevameans of a weighted sprocket 1B, which ention of the machine. ll ip; (3 is a fragmental gages the lower loop of the chain. planview onan enlarged scale, and illus- (Sec Figs. 1, 2 and 5.) The sprockets trates in'detail a portion ofthe grading an H and 15 of both the chains are paratus of the machine illustrated. Fig. 7 respectively mounted on shafts 17 and 18, is-a.. fra g*mental sectional "view, on an en; which are respectively journaled on the l-a'rged scale, along the line 5+3 of Fig. 1. frame at the receiving and the delivery end Fig., 8 is a fraginental sectional view, on an of the machine. The sprockets 16 of both enlarged scale, along" the line 2-2 of Fig. the chains are journaled on a shaft 19, l, and illustrates the means eniployeddo'r which is secured to the free end of a lever adjusting the warp-indicating mechanism, 20, fulcrumcd at 21 on the frame 13, and forming a part out myinvcntion. Fin. 9 is provided with a longitudinally adjustable a fragmental perspective view of a portion Weight 22, which may be locked in differentof the machine, and illustrates the arrangepositions along the lever, for the purpose of m'ent of the tile guide and the tile-testing varying the tension of the chain. (See 40 means employed in. connection with the Fig. 5.)

warp-indicating apparatus. v The wheels. 14; and 15 are so located, that The machine illustrated as an ernhodithe upper loop of each chain passes alone; ment of my invention includes an endless one of two parallel slots 23 Fig. 9, which conveyer, which is adapted to receive tileor are formed in the tile way 12 and extend other articlesto be graded, and to carry parallel to the Way, from one end of the them -first to the grading apparatus, where machine to the other. The conveyer bars 11 they are, stamped or in some manner marked rest on the way 12, and are provided see to indicate their size, and then to the Warp- Fig. 3 with lugs 12, which are adapted to 1 indicating apparatus, which designates in 21 extend downwardly through the slots, and characteristic manner that the tile is imperto which the chains are secured.- The bars the upper loops of the chains move along Figs. 1, 3,"4, 6 and 7).

provided with swings about its the slots 23, and they partially support the weight of the upper loop of the chain. The weighted sprockets 1616 are provided for the purpose of reducing the sliding friction between the bars 11 and the-way 12, and, if desired, additional means, such as rollers, may be employed on the frame, for supporting the upper loop of the chain, so that the bars will move across the way with little or no friction.

The way is provided at each edge with a shoulder 24, which in connection with the conveyer bars, guide the tile in their motion through the machine. One of the shoulders is cut away or slotted to providean opening, through which a grading finger 25 Fig. 3 of the tile-grading apparatus is adapted to project into the way. (See The grading appapassing through the machine, in accordance with their length, and to characteristically mark each tile, so as to indicate its length. This is accomplished by means of the finger 25, a series of type bars 26, (Fig. 3) a separate electro-magnet 27 Fig. 2 for each type bar, and a switch actuated by the finger 25 which controls the delivery of energizing current to the separatemagnets 27 (Fig. 6)

The finger 25 is retracted or withdrawn from the way.12, by a cam 28, which engages a lug 29 provided on the finger, and which 's mounted on a vertical shaft 30, (Fig. 7) journaled in a bracket provided on the frame 13. Theshaft 30 is provided at its lower end with a bevel gear 31, which meshes with a bevel gear 32 mounted on the driving shaft 33 of the machine.

The cam 28 is so timed that it withdraws the finger from theway during the time that the intermittently moving conveyer is moving one tile from under the type bars and another tile under them'and also opposite to the recesg through which the finger projects. Thefinger is moved forward by means 015 a coiled spring 34,- which surrounds. the finger, and is located between a collar carried by it and an extension of the bracket, in which the shaft 30 is journaled. The forward end of the finger is a roller 35, which is moved by the spring 34 into engagement with the end of a tile, thetype bars by the conveyer. The tension of the spring presses the opposite edge of the tile into engagement with the opposite shoulder 24, and, consequently causes the finger to occupy a definite position corresponding to the length of the tile. An arm 36 (Figs. 1 and 6) is fulcrumed 'on a projecting lug on the frame 13 and is pivotally connected to the finger 25, so that it fulcrum point, as the finger reciprocates in its guides, and, consequently occup es definite positions which correspond as the tile is moved under to difierent lengths of tile engaged by the roller 35 of the finger. A contact or brush of contactor terminal bars 38, which are located adjacent to, but are insulated from each other. Each terminal bar-38 is electrically connected with one of --the electromagnets 27 and the contact 37 is connected to the lead 39 Figs. 5- and 6 of a-suitable source of electricity, such as abattery 40. The other lead 41 of the battery is connected to a current interrupter which is illustrated in Fig. 7, and which completes the battery circuit, after the roller 35 has come to rest against the edge of a tile to be graded, and therebvactuates one or another of the magnets 27, minal bars 38 is' engaged by the contact 37.

.The current interrupter consists of a con-- tact 42 Fig. 7, to which the lead 41 of the battery is connected, and which is mounted depending, upon which of the ter- '37 is carried by the arm 36 and is adapted' to move'over and to contact with a series on an insulating casing 43, so that it is insulated fromthe frame 13, to which one terminal of each magnet 27 is connected.

The casing 43 incloses a cam 44', which is mounted on the shaft 30, and is adapted to periodically contact'with the terminal 42 and thereby complete the battery circuit and energize one or the other of the magnets, as has been described.

The armature of each magnet 27 is pivotally mounted at one end and is provided at the otherwith a hammer Fig. 2, which normally rests upon the upper end of one of the type bars 26, and is adapted to move the bar downwardly and into engagement with the tile, when its corresponding magnet is energized. (See Figs. 1, 3 and 4). Each type bar is partially inclosed by a cylindrical casing 45,.Fig. 3 which is secured to a rotatable bar 46, capable of being turned, as will hereinafter be described, for

provided on the purpose of inking the type the lower end of all the bars. Eachcasing also incloses a coiled spring, which engages the bar it surrounds and holds-it and the corresponding armature in the raised position.

The type on the ends of the different bars differ, so that the characters impressed on the tileindicate diiferent lengths. paratus illustrated is provided with five type bars, and consequently-is capable of grading the tile, into five classes, and four iililtermediate classes, or into nine classes in a classes are marked by two of the type bars. This results from the fact that the contact 37 engages} two of the terminal bars 38, and

thereby delivers energizing current to twoof the magnets 27. This actuates two of the armatures and, consequently, depresses The ap- Tile of the so-called intermediate two of the type bars and indicates thatthe tile with which the roller 35 is in contact an intermediate position. hetween two oi 'th hers 38. i

Afterthe tile have been stamped to indi cate their length, they ere moved to the Warp-indicating: zippers-s Where'the imperfect tile are marked )1 otherwise indicated. The way 12 is :Wided with e depression 4S, shown in Fig. 9, which is so arranged that the lateral edges, or, if desired, the corners only of each tile, will be supported.v by the Way and the tile will span the depression. The motion of the conveyor so controlled, as will hereinafter be described, that the tile are successively moved info posit-ion over the depression and held there, until after they hzuve been tested.

The operation testing the tile consists i inholding it in place on thc wey, With its corners firmly against the edges of the depression 48, so one. it Will contact.- With a is such length, that the erm ocuzpies l pin 68 Figs. 8 end 9, if it is Warped so as to m a i 'ciprocuting rod 5 there being casing surrounds extend down .nto the depression. The tile is held in place the testing opera.- tion, by means of fingers 51, shown in Figsl 2, 8 and Qflfilliclr are mounted. on e plete {it and are capable of being moved to different positions along the plate, for the purpose of adjusting them to engage tiles of diilerout ridths and lengths. The plots is loosely mounted on the lower end of a re- 0 shown in Figs, 2 end i,

suliicient relative motion between the plate endthe rod to insure l l l firm contact between the low end of each pin 51 and the. tile. A cylindrical the rod and forms a guide 5 for it and also incloses a coiled spring 53, 1 which normally tendsto move the rod, and, l consequently the plate 49, upwurdly. The cylindrical. casing is shown integrally formed with a yoke 5 L Fig. i, which straddles the Win l2 and forms a part of the frame of the machine. A. narrow-beam rigidly mounted upon. the upper end of the casing ond'supports one end of 2. link 56, to which the lever 57 is pivotnlly connected. The other end of the beam supports n guide 58 for the lever, and the lever engages the upper end of the rod 50, so that it is capable of moving the rod down. against the pressure of the spring 53. The leveris actuutedby the driving shaft of the rnzrchineyl through the agency of an eccentric rod 61 Fig. 5, a bell crank actuated by the eccentric rod, a spring connection, and. a. link 59. The link is p-ivotclly connected to the free end of the lever 57 and is provided with, a sleeve 62, which is capable of moving longitudinally along it, but which is normally held in place against-e collar 63, by means of a spring 64,.which surrounds the link and seats upon zen-adjustable sprints block or nut l 65 as is illustrated .in l ig. The sleeve -52 and :theepringreliorm e spring conned ion between the link 59 and the hell crank The bell. crank is journaled upon e suitable pin, secured to. the frame 13 and one of its arms engages slug or projection formed on the sleeve 62; the other arm is pivotnlly connected to one end of the eccentric rod 61. The other end of the eccentric rod is journnlcd on an eccentric pin 66,

mounted in a longitudinal slot, provided in a crank arm 67, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 33. The pin 66 is czipable of heinc, secured in different positions along the crank arm, for the purpose of varying the throw of the eccentric rod, and consequently the amount of motion of thcsledve 62 and the parts operated by it. During a portion of a rcvoliftien of the chef is moved downwardly by the hell crank,

end this moves the plate 49 downwardly,

through the agency of the link and the lever 57, since the strength of the spring 64 is greater then that of the spring 53.

When the pins 511. carried by the plate 49,

check the dew contacting with a. tile, located on the 152, the sleeve overrides the link 59 and the pressure of the pins on. the tile depends upon the tension or the spring; 64. With this arrangement, each tile is yieldingly,but firmly, held in place during the testing; 0peretion and there is no danger of subjecting it to o bread-zinc pressure.

pin'GS Fig.3. 8 and 9 projects upwardly through. the depressed portion 43 of the way and. is reciprocally mounted in n cusir 6!) Figs. 8 end 9., which depends from the fume 13. A coiled sprint, is located in the casing, surrounds the pin 68, and normally operates to hold the point 'f thepin on :1 level with the edges of the dbl-6551011,, or in other words, in the plane of the bot-tom surface of the Way. An adjustable point or contact 70 is mounted in the bottom of the casing, immediately below the lower end of the pin 13$, so that the pin will contact with it, when, it is moved downwardly by a warped tile. The contact 70 is insulated, from the casing 69, and consequently from the frnme 13, and is electrically connected to e suitable source of electricity, such as a battery 7i Fig. 5, by a lead 72, and a current interrupter, which will hereinafter be described. The other lead 73 of the buttery is connected to one terminal of an electromagnet 74 Fig. 2, which is similar to the magnets 27, and which actuates an armature 73 to depress a. type bar 75, when thepin 68 is moved into contact with the contact '70 by n. warped tile, and the circuit of the battery 71. is completed. A micrometer adjustment is provided for the contact 70, so that it can. be moved upwardly or downwerdl' minute amounts, and so that the Warp-indiceting ap 'iaretus maybe accurately adjusted.

in Fig. 5 of the drawings, 1 illust 33, the sleeve 62 nwerd motion of the plate by trated a current interrupter, which consists of a contact 76, mounted on, but insulated from the sleeve 62, and a contact 77, mounted on, but insulated from the frame 13, and electrically connected to the adjustable contact 70, inclosed within the casing 69. The lead 72 of the battery is connected to the contact 76, and the contact is so located on the sleeve that it engages the contact 77, when the sleeve is moved downwardly by the bell crank 60. This will complete the battery circuit, provided the pin 68 is depressed by a warped tile and forced into engagement with the contact 7 O, in which case the electromagnet 74 will be energized, and, in attractin; its-armature, will actuate the type bar Fig. 2 and characteristically mark the imperfect tile. It will be apparent that various means will be employed for indicating imperfect tile, such, for example, as abell or any other alarm,

when the pin 68 or its equivalent is depressed. The alarm may be employed to replace the type bar and its actuating mechanism, or it may be employed in connection with it. After the tile has been tested, the sleeve 62 is moved upwardly by the bell crank 60, and the spring 53 Fig. 2 lifts the fingers 51 out of engagement with the tile, by moving the rod 50, and, consequently the plate 49 upwardly. p In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown the plate 49 provided with transversely extending under-cut or T-slots, which are adapted to receive the T-heads on the fingers 51. Each finger is also provided with a bolt, which cooperates firmly secure it in an adjusted position on the plate. \Vith thisarrangement, the fingers can be moved along the under-cut heads and secured in different positions on the plate. I have shown each plate provided with two'under-eut slots near each end, so that the positions -of the 'pins can adjusted for different lengths of tiles, as well as for tiles of different widths, Y Y

After the testing operation, the tile are moved to the delivery end of the machine by the intermittently moving chains, and are there received by the operator and may be separated into the different grades, indicated by the marks on them. Thechain is moved forward around the sprockets 14 and 15, by means of a connecting rod 78, a lever 79, a crosshead 80, and a ratchet pin 81, which is mounted on the cross head and operat-ively engages the chain, during each forward movement of the cross head. as is shown in Figs. .1, 2 and 5. One end of the connecting rod is jou'rnaled on a pin 82, which is shown as mounted on a fixed driving pulley of the shaft 33'. The other end of the rod is'connected to one end of the lever 79,.by means of a universal joint, so that the connecting which. may be sounded electrically or otherwise,

head relatively the position of the bolt 84 along the slot 85. v

with its T-head to.

of the chain, throw of the cross rod may be moved in two planes relatively to the lever. portion of the frame 13, and is connected to the cross head by means of a link 83'and a specially formed bolt 84, on which one end of the link is journaled. The bolt is capable of being secured in different positions along an under-cut slot 85, which extends longitudinally of the cross head, and the cross head is mounted on parallel supports 86 Figs. 1 and 2, which are slidably mounted .on rods 87, located-at each: side of the frame 13.

The ratchet pin or pins 81 are so mounted on the cross head, that they engage the chain and move it forward a determined amount,

during each forward movement of the cross head, and then moved back over the chain to a new position of engagement, while the chain remains stationary. The operation of the cross head is so timed, that the chain is at rest during the operation of grading and testing the tile, and apparatus are located and arranged, that they operate simultaneously on different tiles.

It is, of course, move the separate tile to the proper positions relatively to the grading finger of the grading apparatus, and-the depression 48 and pin 68 of the testing apparatus. This is accomplished by varying the to the link 83, by adjusting The amount of travel ofthe chain, during each forward movement, 15 dependent upon the throw of the connecting rod 78, which, if

.desired, may he made variable by means of apparatus similar to that shown in connection with the eccentric rod 61 Fig. 5 andthe eccentric pin 66." The amount of motion of the cross head, and consequently of each forward movement of the chain, could also be varied by varying the fulcrum point of the lever 7 9, or by varying the point of connection between the lever and the connecting rod 78. The relative positions of the rading and testing apparatus, however, etermines the length of each forward movement and means for adjusting the head is not absolutely essential. The length of each forward motion of the chain must be such, that each tile will first be moved to the properposition relatively to the grading apparatus, and then to the proper to the testing apparatus. In the ma chine illustrated, I have so located and proportioned the parts, that each tile will be moved from the grading apparatus to' a point between it and the testing apparatus, and then from the intermediate point to the testing apparatus. The conveyer bars are therefore so spaced along the chain, that tile will be simultaneously located in the the grading and testing necessary for the chain to position of the cross position relatively The lever is fulcrumed on a noeaase mounted on a bar 46, which iscapable of be ing rotated to bring the ends of the bars into engagement with an inking roll 89 Fig. The type bar '(5 FigsQ and 8 is similarly mounted on a rotatable bar, which opera tively connected to the bar 46, by means of a connecting rod shown in Fig. 5. The bar 46 is also connected to a reciprocating rod 91 Fig. 1, by means of a connecting rod 92 and a crank 93, so that it, and consequently the rod su porting the type bar are turned in t eir bearings by the reciprocations of the rod 91. The rod 91 is mounted in, guides on the frame 13, and is provided with a finger 94, which is adjustable along it and is adapted to be engaged by a lug on the lever 79, during the operation of the lever. The lever is adapted to move the rod longitudinally in opposition to the pressure of a coiled spring 96. which surrounds the rod and is located betiveen the finger Wt and I an upright, forming one of the guides for the rod. The finger is so located on the rod relatively to the positioning of the lug 95 on the lever, that the type bars 26 and 7 5 will he turned to engage their respective inking rolls, during the interval that the conveyor is moving the tile forward, and will here-j turned. to their normalpositions during the first part of the backward motion of the cross head. The inking roll for the type bars 26 is indicated at 89 and the roll for the bar 7 5 is indicated at 98.

One of the features of my, invention is the combination of a grading and a Warpagedetermining and indicating apparatus in the same machine and the organization of the parts or"- the machine, so that the two apparatus work synchronously and in conjunction with the same conveyor. In this connection it is to be noted that while I have shown the grading apparatus particularly adapted to measure the length ol tile and to grade them in accordance with their lengg-gths, it may be employed to i'neasure the rridtll lor the thickness, of the tile and to grade them in accordance with either or both of these dimensions. It'is'also tobe noted that while the testing apparatus is particularly adapted to indicate a convex warp-age on one side of the tile, it may be so arranged, that it will indicate warping of any chara ter evidenced on any portion of the tile. A plurality of pins 68 maybe employed for engaging different portions of the tile during the testing operation, and each pin may be arranged to separately operate a marking or indicating device, such as a. type bar, or thepinls may he so arranged that they will all cooperate in completing the operatingcircuit of one type-actuating 'electro-magnet similar to the operating mechanism of the or similar apparatus. The electro-mag'net-s of both the'grading and the testing apparatus are the preferred means for actuating thetype but they are also merely illustrative, and may be replaced by various means, such, for example, as mechanical means, consisting of a selectivc mechanism, similar to the lever 36 Figs. 1 and 6, and an operating mechanism for depressing the selected type,

Various means may be employed for 10- cating the tile or the article to be graded and tested on the conveyor, but at present I contemplate placing each tile by lltlllddll the proper position on the conveyor, adjacent to one of the coi'iveyer bars and het'wcei the shoulders of the tile way 12.

The machine illustrated is particularly adapted for grading and testing tile or similar articles made of clay or vitreous material, hut it may also be employed for grading and testing other articles, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The operation ot' the apparatus is somewhat as follows: The tile to be graded are placed on theconveyer so that one edge of each tile is engaged by one of the conveyor bars 11. Theconveyer operates so that it moves each tile] to a position under grading mechanisms and opposite to the end of the grading linger 25. i'vVhcn a tile. is in this position the finger moves into contact;

with one of its ends and forces the-other end against the opposite shoulder 24 of the way along which the tile moves. This causes the finger, and consequently the contact arm 36 to occupy definite positions corresponding to the length of the tile. After the finger and ti the current interrupter operates to complcte an electric circuit including one of the electromagncts 27, and to thereby actuate one of the typehars sothat it characteristic; lly marks the. tile to indicate its length After the tile marked the conveyor advances and moves the tile to position over the uiflrpage indicating pin (38. This opera,- tion til the conveyor also moves another tile to position under the grading mechanisms 1 5 and the machine operates tograde a tile during the operation of testing the first tile for va -page. Durin'g'the. vvarpage'testmg operation, the tile IS clamped in place over the depression 48 by means of'the fingers 51,

and this clamping operation moves it into contactwith the pin 68 the tileis Warped adetermined amount. The pin responds to the pressure of a Warped" tile and movesi downwardly into engagement. with a contact '125 70, which is included in the operating circuit pf a typebar 75'. The operating mechanism of the fin ers 51 also actuates the electrical contact 16 so that it completes the circuit of the operating'mechanism of the the 95 1e arm 36 have come to rest 5 bar 75 and causes the bar to stamp the tile if the tile is warped to such a degree as to be defective. fter the tile has been tested for warpage, t e conveyer advances it along the tile way and finally delivers it from the discharge end or the machine.

What I claim is:

'1. In a machine for grading tile and similar articles, a grading finger adapted to contact with a tile to be graded, an intermittently moving conveyer for moving tile up to and away from said finger, driving means for the conveyer, indicating mechanisms, and means jointly controlled by the finger and the driving means for actua\ing the indicating mechanisms during the rest of the conveyer.

2. In a machine for grading tile andsimir lar articles, a grading finger adapted to coritact with tile to be graded and to occupy different positions corresponding to the. size of the tile, an intermittently moving conveyer for conveying tile to the finger, driving means for actuating the conveyer, indicating mechanisms controlledby said finger and means actuated by' the driving means for rendering the indicating mechanism inactive during the motion of the conveyer.

3. A grading machine, comprising, a conveyer for articles to be graded, means for intermittently moving the conveyer, means for engaging the articles moved by the conveyer during the intervals of rest of the conveyer, and means controlled by said last mentioned means and actuated during the intervals of rest of the conveyer for indicating the size of the article on the conveyer.

4. A grading machine comprising a grading finger, means for moving articles to be graded opposite to said finger, means for moving said finger into engagement with said articles, electrically actuated means for indicating the size of the articles engaged by the finger, an electric circuit, a controller for said electrically actuated means actuated by said finger and included in the circuit, and a current interrupter in the circuit for rendering the electrical means inoperative between grading operations.

5. A grading machine comprising a conveyer for articles to be graded, a grading finger for engaging the articles conveyed, means for actuating said finger to move it into contact with and to withdraw it from the article to be graded, electrically actuated means for indicating the size of the article graded, an electric circuit means actuated by said finger and included irr the circuit for controlling the operation of said electrically actuated means, and a current interrupter included in the circuit and actuated by the finger actuating meansfor rendering the electai a1 113 i110pe1t'ativeduring the motion r e finger. Q; V A grading inadiine for tile .and sinii periods of controlled by the finger actuating means for rendering the indicating devices inactive between grading operations. I

7. A grading machine comprising a grading finger, a moving conveyer for movin articles to be graded into engagement with the finger, a driving agent for the conveyer,

means actuated by the driving agent for actuating the finger, indicating means for indicating the size of each article graded, and means actuated by the finger for controlling the operation of the indicating means.

8. In a machine of the character des:ribed, ,a grading finger, a conveyer for moving articles to be graded adjacent to said finger, means for intermittently actuating the conveyer, means actuated by the conveyer actuating means for causing the finger to move into engagement with an article conveyed while said conveyer is at rest, adjustable means for controlling the motion of the conveyer, so that it successively moves the articles conveyed by it into the proper position relatively to said finger,

means for characteristically marking each article engaged by said finger, and means controlled by the finger for actuating. the

last-mentioned means.

9. In a machine of the character described, a grading finger, means for moving the finger to different posltions, a conveyer for moving articles to be graded into engages,

ment with the finger, adjustable means engaging the conveyer and controlling the motion of the conveyer,'and means for reciprocating said adjustable, means to actuate the conveyer.

10. A testing apparatus for determining the warpage of tile and similar articles, comprising, a support for the tile to' be tested, a conveyer for moving tile onto the support, means for intermittently actuating the conveyer, movable means capable of occupying different positions corresponding to variations in the contour of the surface of the tile on the support, an electric circuit including said means and controlled thereby, an indicating .device, electrically actuated means included in sald circuit for actuating said indicatlng device, and a cur rent interrupter located in said circuit and actuated by said conveyer-operating means for breaking the circuit during periods of operation of the conveyer.

the warpage of It. A testing apparatus for determining the \varpage of tile and similar articles, eon'iprising a sunport tor the tile to be tested, a. cmiveyer For moving tile to be tested onto said support, means for intermitlently moving the conveyor, means for clamping the tile in place on the support. after the onveyor has come to rest, and tor releasing the tile prior to the movement of the conveyer, movable means engaged by the tile on the support and capable oi occupying ditterenl positions eorrcspoinling to variations in the contour of the engaging surface, and indicating means co trolled by said movable means for indicating the \varpage of the tile.

l2. Ki. testing apparatus for determining the warpage or tile and similar {\Ltl(fi(38,(?01llprising. a tile way, means for at aming tile in be tested along the way, a support. for the tile traversing the way, movable tile engaging means engaged by the supported taro of the tile engaged by said support, and movable to different positions depend out upon the contour ot the engaging surt'are of the ti e, an electric circuit controlled by the movable tile cngagingmeans, clectrically actuated tilomarking means included in the circuit, and pe 'iodically open aling means for holding the tile in place on the support during the testing operation.

13. A testing apparatus, for determining F tile and similar articles, comprising, a support for the articles to be tested, a tile cmn'eying means for moving the tiles to engage the support, clamping means tor holding the tiles, 'niovcd by said conveying means, against; the support during the tOSLll'lg operation, a movable pin, engaged by the tiles engaged by the support, and capable of occupying ditlierent, positions corresponding to the variations in the con tour of the engaging surface of the tile on the support, an electric circuit controlled by the pin, electrically actuated tile marking means included in the circuit, and a, current: interrupter operating to close the circuit atter the clamping means has operated to secure a tile in place on the support.

14-. A testing amiaratus for determining the warpage of tile and similar articles,

comprising, a support: for the tile to be test-- ed, a eonveyer for moving tile onto said support, means for intermittently ctuating the conveyor, clamping means for yieldingly holding tile in position on the support during )eriods of rest of the conveyor. movable means-engaged by tahe surface of tile on the support and capable of moving to different positions corresponding to variations in the contour ofthe engaging surface, a tile marking device, for marking tile located on the support, actuating means for the ranking device controlled by said movable means, and means actuated by the conveyor-actuatl l l l l l l l article to be tested in ing means for rendering the marking device actuating means inactive during the motion of the conveyor.

, 15. A testing apparatus for determining the warpage of tile and eomprisii'ig a way, a conveyor for moving tile along the Way, driving means for intermittently moving the conveyor, means tnated by the driving means for holding each tile in place on the wirv during the 't'estin and markin oaeration a )in en' gaged by the tile on the Way and movable to diti'ercnt positions corres iionding to the contour of the engaging surface ot' the tile, and means controlled by said pin for marlo ing the tile.

it It testing apitmratus for determining the Warpage oi tile and similar articles, CtflHpllSlIlg a way having a, depression formed therein and. along which the tile to be tested is moved, a pin lOCl ted in said depression, a conveyer to moving tile along the Way and into position over said depression, means for intermittently moving the conveyor, means for clamping the tile in place on the way over the depression, electrically actuated means controlled by'the pin for marking the tile tested, an electric circuit including said electrically actuated means and a current: interrupter in said circuit for rendering said electrical means inoperative during the motion of the conveyer,

1.7. in a n'iachine of the character scribed, a Warp-indicating tile and similar articles, cinnprising a support for the article to be tested, testing ineanscngaged by the article on the support, a conveyer for successively n'ioving articles to place on said support, driving agent, means driven thereby for intermittently ac tuating the conveyor, and means actuated by the driving agent for yicldingly holding the place on the support during the testing operation.

7 18. A Warpage-tcsting and indicating apparatus for tile and similar articles, comprising a support for the tiles to be tested provided. vith a depression, a conveyor for moving the tilesialong the support, adjustable means for intermittently actuating sa d conveyor, so that the conveyor successively moves the tile to he tested iii-place across said depression, a pin located in the depression so as to be engaged by warped tile, reciprocating means for moving into contact with and for holding each tile, in place on the; support across the depression, an indieating device for marxing thetested tile, means controlled by said pin for actuating the device to mark the tested tile, and means 7 deapparatus for for rendering said device inactive until. said reciprocating means is moved into engage ment with the his to be tested.

19. In a machniewf. the character ds similar articles,

scribed, a mechanism for grading tiles in accordance with their sizes, a warpage testing and indicating mechanism for indicating Warped tiles, a conveyer for conveying tile to one, and then to the other, of said mechanisms and for simultaneously moving a tile to an operative position with relation to each mechanism, means for intermittently moving the conveyer and means for simultaneously actuating both of said mechanisms during periods of restrof the conveyer.

20. In a Warpage testing and marking machine, a support for tile to be tested, a tile conveying means for moving the tile to engage the support, a movable pin engaged and operatedby the tile on the support,

driving means for actuating the tile conveying means, periodically actuated means for yieldingly holding a tile in place on the support during the testing operation, means for periodically actuating the tile holding means, and means controlled by the pin for indicating warpage of the tile on the support.

21. In a machine of the character described, a warpage testing and marking device comprising, a support for articles to be tested, and a pin for engaging the'surface of the article on the support, means for 'ecting the pin, a conveyer yieldingly pro for moving articles to be tested on to the support and for removing them therefrom,

means for intermittently moving the conveyer, reelprocable means for moving into engagement avith, and for holding each or ticle in place on the support during periods of rest of the conveyer, means for reciproeating said reciprocable means and means controlled by the pin for marking the ar ticles on the support.

22. A testing apparatus for determining the warpage of tile and similar art-icles, comprising a support for tile to be tested, a conveyor for moving tile onto the support and for removing them therefrom, driving means for intern'iittently moving the conveyer, a movable pin engaged by the tile located on the support, means for yieldingly projecting the pin, an electric circuit including the pin, a tilemarlt'ing device for marking tile located on the support, electrical actuating means therefor included in the circuit and controlled by the pin, a current interrupter located in the circuit, and means for actuating the interrupter to break the circuit and to thereby render the marking device inactive while the conveyer is operating to convey tile.

23.111 a machine of the character described a war-page testing and marking device comprising a support for articles to be tested, a pin for engaging an article on the support, means for yieldingly projecting thepin/a conveyer for moving articles to be tested onto the support and for removing them therefrom, driving means for the conveyer, means actuated by the driving means for clamping the article to be tested in place on the support during the testing operation and means controlled by the pin for marking the article on the support.

24;. In a machine of the character described, a w'arpage testing and marking device comprising a support for tileto be tested, means for engaging the tile on the support, a conveyer for moving successive tile into place on the support and for moving them therefrom, driving means for the con veyer, a marking device actuated by the first mentioned means for marking the tile on the support and means actuated by the driving means for clamping the tile in place on the support during the operation of the marking device.

25. In a Warpage testing and marking machine, a support, a pm for engaging'tiles mounted on the support, tile conveying means for moving tiles onto and removing them from the support, drlvlng means for the tile conveying means, a marking device for marking tile located on the support, an

electrically actuated mechanism for actuating said marking device, an electric circuit including the actuating mechanism of the tile marking device and the pin, and a current interrupter actuated by the driving means and included in the electric circuit.

20. In a machine of the character described, gradingmechanisms, warpage testing mechanisms, a conveyer for Simultaneously moving tiles to operative positions with relation to the grading and Warpage testing mechanisms, means for actuating the conveyer and means actuated by the driving means of the conveyer for simultaneously actuating the grading and warpage testing mecl'lanisms.

27. In a machine of the character described, grading mechanisms, W'arpage testing mechanisms, an intermittently moving conveyer for sin'iultaneously moving tile to operative ositions with relation to the grading and warp-age testin mechanisms, and means actuated by the driving mechanisms of the conveyer for sim ultaneonsly actuating the grading and Warpage testing mecha nisms luring periods of rest of the conveyer.

2S. 1 n a tile grading and marking machine, a conveyer for tile to be graded, driving means for interi'nittently moving the conveyer, a'finger for engaging the'tile on the conveyer, means actuated by the driving means for moving the finger, a tile marking device, and means controlled by the finger for actuating the tile marking device during periods of'rest otgzsaid conveyer.

29. In a tile grading and marking machine, a conveyer for tile to' be graded, drivt ing" means, for intermittently moving the conveyer, a finger for engaging tile on the conveyer, means actuated by the driving means for withdrawin the finger from the path of travelot the tile, a spring for mov ing the finger into engagement with the tile during periods of rest of the conveyer, an indicating device, and means controlled by the finger for operating the indicating device to indicate the size of the tile engaged by the finger. x

30. In a tile grading and marking machine, a conveyer for tile to be graded, driving means for the conveyer, a finger for engaging tile on the conveyer, means actuated by the driving means for moving the finger, electrically actuated tile marking devices, an electric circuit including said devices,

means actuated by the finger and included.

in said circuit for controlling said devices and a current interrupter included in said circuit and actuated by said driving means.

31. In a tile grading and marking machine, a' conveyer for tile to be graded, driving means for intermittently moving said conveyer, a finger for engaging a tile on the conveyer While conveyer is at rest, means for withdrawing the finger out of the path 01 travel of the tile, a spring for moving the finger into engagement with a tile on the conveyer, electrically actuated tile marking devices, anelectric circuit including said devices, a controller for said devices, included in said circuit and actuated by the finger and a current interrupter included in the circuit and actuated by the finger actuating means. I 32. A grading machine for tile, comprising a grading finger, a conveyer for moving tile to be graded up to said finger, driving means for the conveyer, electrically actuated means for marking the size of the tile on the tile engaged by the finger, an electric circuit including said electrically actuated means, a controller in the circuit actuated by the finger, a current interrupter in the clrcuit' and means actuated by the driving means for actuating the current interrupter.

33. In a tile testing machine, a tile support, electrically actuated indicating mecha: m-sms, an operating circuit for said InechaJ- nisms, a movable pin located 111 said filltflllt,

for engaging the surface of tile located/on the; support, an adjustable contact tor -said pin located in said circuit, a currentinterrupter located in the circuit, a conveyer for moving tile onto saidsupport, and means for actuating the current i,nterrupter to break the circuit between testing operations.

34;. In a machine for grading .tile and similar articles, a conveyer for moving tile, a reciprocable grading finger for engaging tile conveyed by the conveyer, and adapted to'occupy different positions corresponding to the size of the tile conveyed,means for actuating the finger, indicating means'for indicating the size of tile engaged by the conveyer, means controlled by the finger for actuating the indicating means and means for. rendering the indicating means inactive during the motion of the finger.

35. In a machine of the character described, a Warpage indicating apparatus for tile, comprising, a tile 'Way, a conveyer for moving tile along the Way, driving means for intermittently moving the conveyer,- a

located on the Way into engagement with the pin during periods of rest of the conveyer, means for periodically actuating said tile pressing means, and a War-page indicating mechanism controlled by the pin. K

86. In a Warpage testing machine, a conveyer for articles to be tested, means for insupport engaged by articles moved -by the conveyer, during intervals of rest of the conveyer, movable means for engaging the supsupport and a mechanism controlled by said last mentioned means and actuated during intervals of rest of the conveyer for indicating Warpage of the article engaged by the support. v

3 A Warpage indicating apparatus comprising, a tile support, tile conveying means, for moving a tile to position relatively to said support, movable means for engaging a tile engaged by the support, a Warpage indicating mechanism, means controlled by said movable means for actuating said mechanism, holding means for pressing a tile into engagement with the support, during the testing operation, and means for actuating said tile conveying means and said holding means.

38. In awarpage indicating apparatus, a tile Way, a tile support, movable means for engaging the supported face of a tile supported by the support, a conveyer for moving tile/along the Way, driving means for intermittently moving the conveyer, means ressing tile, traversing the Way, against support and into engagement with the movable means during periods of rest of the conveyer, means for periodically actuating the tile pressing means and means controlled by the movable means for indicating the Warpage of the tile supported by the sup- )ort.

l 39. A testing apparatus for determining the Warpage of tile and similar articles, comprising, a tile way, a conveyer for moving tile along the Way, a support-for the tile traversing the conveyer, means for intermittently actuating the conveyer, movable means for engaging the supported face termittently moving the conveyer, a rigid,

port-ed face of a tile While engaged by theof a tile supported by'the support and camovable pin, means for pressing a tile hile I pablc of occupyin responding the supported surface of the tile port, an electric circuit including 5 able means and controlled there difierent positions corto variations in the contour of on the supcating device, electrically actuated means included in said circuit for actuating said inicating device and a current interrupter said m0van inch circuit during periods of operation of the WM. K. ACHERT.

conveyer.

WitnesSesz WALTER F. MURRAY, W. THORNTON Bocnn'r. 

